Whirling amusement device with a vibrating drive and its associated method of operation

ABSTRACT

An amusement device used to move a supported display object through an erratic path. The amusement device includes a base element in which is disposed a vibration mechanism. A support spring is used to interconnect a display object to the vibration mechanism in the base element. The support spring has a first end and a second end. The first end of the support spring is coupled to the vibration mechanism in the base element. The remainder of the support spring extends freely from the base element. The display object is coupled to the second end of the support spring. As the display object vibrates, it causes the support spring to oscillate, thereby causing the display object to move erratically from point to point.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/383,914, entitled Whirling Amusement Device And Associates Method Of Operation, filed Aug. 26, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to amusement devices that contain an object that spins, whirls or otherwise moves erratically. More particularly, the present invention relates to amusement devices that contain an object that moves erratically, a motor for moving that object and a flexible support disposed between the object and the motor.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] The prior art of toys and amusement devices is replete with many examples of objects that spin and whirl. Many such devices are powered by rotational momentum, such as tops and gyroscopes. Other devices are powered by springs, such as windup ballerina figures. Still many other devices utilize battery-powered motors to create a spinning motion.

[0006] One variation of a battery powered amusement device is when the object being spun is connected to the battery-powered motor by a flexible shaft. In such devices, the forces of inertia and centrifugal force cause the flexible shaft to oscillate as the shaft spins. The oscillation of the shaft causes the object being spun to move in an erratic manner. Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,702 to Belokin, entitled, Display Having An Electric Motor For Simulating A Flying Object; U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,697 to Ward, entitled, Hoop Top; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,844 to Markowitz, entitled, Interactive Vibrating Toy.

[0007] A limitation associated with such prior art amusement devices is the fact that the length of the flexible shaft is constant. As such, the object supported by the flexible shaft is restrained by the flexible shaft should that object attempt to move away from or closer to the rotating base.

[0008] It has been found that an the path followed by a rotating object is far more complex and interesting to observe if the length of the shaft supporting that object is not held constant. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device where an object is held at the end of a moving flexible shaft that has a variable length. In this manner, the object is free to move both toward and away from its rotating base as part of its erratic movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is an amusement device used to move a supported display object through an erratic path. The amusement device includes a base element, in which is disposed a vibration mechanism. The vibration mechanism can be battery powered, spring powered or manually powered. A flexible support spring is used to interconnect a display object to the vibration mechanism in the base element. The support spring has a first end and a second end. The first end of the support spring is coupled to the vibration mechanism within the base element, wherein the support spring is vibrated at a predetermined frequency by the vibration mechanism. The remainder of the support spring extends freely from the base element.

[0010] The display object is coupled to the second end of the support spring. As the display object vibrates at the predetermined frequency, it causes the support spring to oscillate, thereby causing the display object to move erratically from point to point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a partially fragmented front view of a first embodiment of the present invention amusement device;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention amusement device shown in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention amusement device; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of third alternate embodiment of the present invention amusement device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention device 10 is shown. The device is comprised of three primary parts, which are a base 12, a display object 14 and a flexible support 16 that interconnects the display object 14 to the base 12.

[0017] In the shown embodiment, the base 12 is configured as a pen. However, such an embodiment is merely exemplary. The base 12 can be most any hand held object. Alternatively, the base 12 can be a self-supporting structure that can rest on a flat surface. As such, it should be understood that the appearance of the base 12 is not important to the functioning of the overall device 10. The base 12 can be dedicated to the function of the overall device 10 or the base 12 can have a secondary purpose outside the functioning of the overall device 10, as does the pen illustrated. Alternate embodiments of the base are later described.

[0018] Regardless of the appearance of the base 12, contained within the base is vibrating assembly 20. Preferably, the vibrating assembly 20 includes a vibration mechanism 22, a battery 24 for powering the vibration mechanism 22 and an on/off switch 26 for controlling the operation of the vibration mechanism 22, as is shown in FIG. 1. However, in alternate embodiments, the vibrating assembly 20 can be a spring powered assembly, a flywheel powered assembly, a manual crank powered assembly or any other known means for providing vibratory movement at a predetermined point in an amusement device.

[0019] In the shown embodiment, the vibrating assembly 20 causes a connector coupling 30 to vibrate. The vibration of the connector coupling 30 can be either a linear back and forth vibration or a circular vibration along a conical path. The movement of the connector coupling 30 is indicated by arrows in FIG. 1.

[0020] The shown embodiment of the flexible support 16 is a coil spring having a relatively low spring constant. The spring constant is selected so that the coil spring is just capable of maintaining full compression when stacked vertically with the weight of the display object 14 aligned vertically at its top. Once the support spring 16 is turned away from a vertical alignment, the weight of the display object 14 bends the coil spring and pulls the coil spring away from full compression. The coil spring can be made from either plastic or metal, as desired.

[0021] The flexible support 16 has two ends. One end of the flexible support 16 attaches to the connector coupling 30 on the base 12. A connector may be present at the end of the flexible support 16 to facilitate attachment between the flexible support 16 and the connector coupling 30.

[0022] The opposite end of the flexible support 16 terminates with the display object 14. The display object 14 can be either permanently affixed to the flexible support 16 or detachable from the flexible support 16. A detachable configuration can be used in assemblies where multiple display objects are available and a person selects which of the display objects is placed upon the flexible support 16.

[0023] The display object 14 can be any item desired. However, since the display object 14 will move around in an erratic pattern, it is desired that the display object 14 have no sharp points and be light in weight, so as to prevent injuries if the display object were to inadvertently contact a person's face.

[0024] In the shown embodiment, the display object 14 is an eyeball made from photoluminescent plastic that enables the eyeball to be viewed in the dark. It will be understood that the display object 14 can be any object, such as an airplane, an insect, a cartoon character or the like. The display object 14 can also be a confection such as a hard candy.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the first end of the flexible support 16 is vibrated by the vibration motor 22 (FIG. 1) in the base 12. As the flexible support 16 is vibrated, oscillations develop along the length of the flexible support 16. The oscillations cause the flexible support 16 to move in an erratic pattern. While the flexible support moves, momentum and centrifugal force created by the combined mass of the flexible support 16 and the display object 14, causes the flexible support 16 to elongate and the display object 14 to move erratically. As the display object 14 moves, the flexible support 16 stretches and retracts, thereby altering the length of the flexible support 16. The forces created by the deformed flexible support 16 combine with the momentum and centrifugal forces to rapidly vary the movements of the display object 14.

[0026] The display object 14 erratically moves to different points throughout a possible range, which is shown by the circle in FIG. 2. The possible range is spherical in shape and has a radius equal to the stretched length of the flexible support 16. If the forces experienced by the flexible support 16 are insufficient to fully extend the flexible support 16, the radius of the possible range will decrease to the maximum length at which the flexible support is stretched.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, a variation of the present invention device 40 is shown. In this embodiment, the base 42 is a self-contained hand-held unit that contains a battery operated vibration mechanism. However, in this embodiment, multiple flexible supports 44 are coupled to the vibration mechanism. Each of the flexible supports 44 supporting its own display object 46. Although two flexible supports 44 and two display objects 46 are shown, it should be understood that any plurality of flexible supports and display objects can be used.

[0028] The display objects 46 also can be come in a variety of sizes and weights. Since size and weight affect the path followed by the display object 46, each type of display object 46 will have its own unique movement characteristics.

[0029] As the vibration mechanism in the base 42 is operated, all of the flexible supports 44 coupled to the vibration mechanism are vibrated with the same force and frequency. Due to differences in the weight of the display objects 46, the length of the flexible supports 44 and their orientation relative the base 42, each of the display objects 46 will move along its own unique erratic path.

[0030] Referring lastly, to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the present invention device 50 is disclosed. In this embodiment, the base 52 is a self-supporting assembly that can rest on a flat surface and does not need to be held. The base 52 contains a vibration mechanism, such the ones previously described in relation to prior embodiments. In this embodiment, the flexible supports are used to hold display objects that move around the base. As such, the display objects 54 will move around the base 52 as the base 52 rests on a surface. Such a configuration can be used as an advertisement promotion to attract the attention of customers. Such a configuration is also useful as part of a game, wherein a whirling display object 54 is used to knock down objects or is used to combat other whirling objects.

[0031] It will be understood that the various FIGS. described above illustrate only preferred embodiments of the present invention. Features from the different embodiments can be mixed to produce yet further embodiments. A person skilled in the art can therefore make numerous alterations and modifications to the shown embodiments utilizing functionally equivalent components to those shown and described. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An amusement device, comprising: a base element; a vibrating mechanism disposed within said base; at least one flexible support, each flexible support having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled to said vibrating mechanism within said base element, wherein said at least one flexible support extends freely from said base element and caused to vibrate at a predetermined frequency by said vibrating assembly; a display object coupled to said second end of each said flexible support.
 2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said vibrating assembly is electric powered.
 3. The device according to claim 2 , further including an on/off switch accessible on said base element for selectively activating and deactivating said vibrating assembly.
 4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each said flexible support is a coil spring.
 5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a single vibrating mechanism is contained in said base and multiple flexible elements are coupled to said vibration mechanism.
 6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first end of each said flexible support is selectively detachable from said vibrating assembly within said base element.
 7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said second end of said each said flexible support is selectively detachable from said display object.
 8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said display object is photoluminescent.
 9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said display object is a confection.
 10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said display object has a mass sufficient to partially elongate said flexible support.
 11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said base element is a hand-held device.
 12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said base element has a flat bottom surface and is free standing on said flat bottom surface.
 13. A method of imparting erratic movement to an object, comprising the steps of: providing a support spring having a first end and a second end; attaching said object to said first end of said support spring; attaching said second end of said support spring to a vibrating assembly; vibrating said support spring and said object at a frequency sufficient to cause oscillations in said support spring.
 14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said support spring is a coil spring.
 15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said vibrating assembly is powered by an electric motor.
 16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said display object has a mass sufficient to partially elongate said support spring.
 18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said vibrating assembly is contained within a hand-held object.
 19. An amusement device, comprising: a battery powered vibration mechanism; a coil spring having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said coil spring is attached to said vibration mechanism; a display object coupled to said second end of said coil spring, wherein said vibration mechanism causes said coil spring and said display object to oscillate with enough force to cause said display object to move along an erratic path.
 20. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said vibration mechanism is encased in a hand-held object. 